The Impressive TimesMumbai, May 7 , 2024 : Polling in the third phase for 11 Lok Sabha constituencies of Maharashtra began Tuesday amid tight
security to decide the electoral fate of 258 candidates, official sources said. Spread across three regions these are seven
from western Maharashtra and two each from Kokan and Marathwada — Baramati, Solapur, Madha, Sangli, Satara, Kolhapur,
Hatkangale, Raigad, Ratnagiri Sindhudurg, Osmanabad and Latur. Polling began in all the constituencies at 7 am with tremendous response from voters. Voting will continue till 6 pm. In early voters there were, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar along with his wife and Baramati candidate Sunetra Pawar and mother Ashatai Pawar, who cast their votes in Baramati.Talking to mediaperson Pawar said that he has always given priority to development and has contested election only on developmental issues. “A lot of allegation has been levelled on me by the Opposition, but I am not taking it seriously,” he said. Also Raigad NCP candidate Sunil Tatkare along with his family also cast his votes in Raigad. There are 258 candidates contesting in this phase, whose fate will be determined by 2.09 crore
voters comprising 1.07 crore males, 1.02 crore females, and 929 transgender persons. The ECI has set up a total of 23,036 polling stations including 114 critical equipped with 49,491 ballot units, 23,036 control units, and 23,036 VVPAT machines.
There is a direct fight between Mahayuti and Mahavikas Aghadi everywhere. While Vanchit Bahujan Agadhi pose challenge to both of the front. In Baramati, the home turf of Sharad Pawar, is set for a high-profile battle, with the NCP’s Sunetra Pawar, wife of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, taking on sitting MP Supriya Sule – the daughter of Sharad Pawar. In Sangali Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray UBT’s Chandrahar Subhash Patil is up against BJP’s Sanjaykaka Patil. However, Congress’ Vishal Patil, the grandson of the late Chief Minister Vasantdada Patil, is also contesting as an Independent candidate. In Satara, Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has been fielded by the BJP to take on Shashikant Jaywantrao Shinde of Sharad Pawar-headed NCP. In Solapur (SC) constituency Former chief minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s daughter and Congress MLA Praniti Shinde contesting against BJP’s MLA Ram Satpute. In Madha prestigious seat Sitting MP of BJP Ranjitsinh Nimbalkar once again contesting
election against NCP-SCP Dhairyasil Mohite Patil . In Kolhapur, MVA candidate Chhatrapati Sahu Maharaj is contesting election against sitting Shinde Sena MP Sadashiv Mandalik. Sitting Shinde Sena’s sitting MP Dhairyasil Mane is seeking reelection against UBT’s Satyajit Patil in Hatkangale constituency. Also Swabhimani Shetkari Sangathana chief Raju Shetty is in the fray In Raigad, sitting NCP MP Sunil Tatkare contesting election against UBT’s nominee Anant Gite. While in Ratnagiri-Shindudurg constituency union minister and BJP candidate Narayan Rane fighting against UBT sitting MP Vinayak Raut. In Osmanabad Lok constituency sitting UBT MP Om Raje Nimbalkar recontesting election against NCP’s Archana Patil wife of BJP MLA Rana Jagjitsinh. In Latur (SC) constituency, sitting BJP MP Sudhakar Shrungare once again contesting election against Congress nominee Dr Shivaji Kalge.
So far, polling has been peaceful and no untoward incident was witnessed even during the
campaigning, the police said.
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